Sushi Yasaka

Unfortunately Anna and I didn't get any sushi while we were on our West Coast vacation, so last week after getting back to NYC, that was exactly what I was craving.

Daniella suggested a place called Sushi Yasaka - located in the Upper West Side. She knows I love Omakase, and this place offers one for the reasonable price of just $45.


We were all starving and started off with two appetizers:

The first was the Ebi Shinjo: fried rock shrimp with a spicy tomato-based dipping sauce. The shrimp was a shrimp paste shaped into balls rather than whole shrimp, but still tasty

Additionally we got the shrimp and vegetable tempura (a must-have for me at any Japanese restaurant):

For dinner itself, we all chose to have the Yasaka Omakase:

Unagi (upper left), and uni (front middle)

Salmon (left), Toro/Tuna (right), and shrimp (upper right)

Red snapper



The fish was fresh and all of it was delicious (my least favorite was the silver/gray fish which I can't remember the name of - it had a slightly stronger fish-flavor than I usually like)


Of course for dessert we have the green tea crepe cake:

So delicious :D


The prices here are amazing - especially given the good quality of the fish. I assume it's because the restaurant has a high volume of customers and can therefore offer more competitive rates on their food

Even though it's all the way on the West Side, I will definitely be back! Yum yum



Overall rating: 8.5/10

251 W 72nd St
New York, NY 10023

Magnolia Bakery

They may have become famous for their cupcakes, but there's only one dessert at Magnolia Bakery that actually lives up to the hype:


The banana pudding:

I don't even like bananas, and I could eat a bucket full of this stuff. Light, creamy, with chunks of cake and banana while not being overwhelmingly sweet

Yum :D

I got this serving at their upper east side Bloomingdale's location

Overall rating: 8.5/10

1000 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10065

Veniero's

Hello old friend! It's been a long time



Veniero's was my go-to bakery for all of my cookie and cake needs while I was in med school, but I haven't visited since my return to NYC


Maybe it's because I now live on the Upper East Side and it's a longer distance to travel, or maybe it's because of my growing fear of diabetes, but it's taken over 8 months for Veniero's and me to be reunited.



Today I selected the Amore (red velvet cake):

and a mixed fruit tart:

Delicious as always! And good eye-candy too :)




Overall rating: 8/10

342 E 11th St
New York, NY 10003

Indian Road Cafe

Sunday = brunch day and today we went up to the Upper West Side to sample the Indian Road Cafe near Columbia's campus.


It's a popular place and there was a 30 minute wait for a table of two, but fortunately they have a coffee bar where we could enjoy our Mocha's in the meantime.


I expected a place called the "Indian Road Cafe" to have some sort of Indian twist on brunch: maybe a Chicken Tikka Benedict or Saag Paneer Omelet... but for better or worse, that wasn't the case. The menu was extensive but pretty traditional - from french toast to huevos rancheros to 6 different eggs Benedict options



I opted for the pulled pork eggs Benedict:

The pulled pork was very yummy, but I wish I had gotten the Parmesan hash browns (as was listed on the menu), rather than the salad. Not gonna lie - I felt a little cheated

Anna got the scrambled eggs with chicken-apple sausages:

It ended up being pretty good brunch fare, but just a bit far from home

Overall rating: 7/10

600 W 218th St #3
New York, NY 10034